News from President Jessica Stumpf

Welcome Back!

To faculty returning to campus after the summer break, and to those who have been working diligently all summer to prepare for the return, welcome to the 2012-2013 academic year!

Thank you all for your hard work and dedication toward helping Anoka-Ramsey’s students feel comfortable and successful every year. I am proud to hear so often that we are all ultimately working toward that same goal: Student Success. I am thankful that I work with such devoted and enthusiastic teams who understand and appreciate the importance of education and students.

Thank you for all that you do!

Your Campus MSCF Officers

Cambridge Campus

Barbara Prince

President

Marko Marian

Vice President

Kathleen Hoffman

Secretary

Joe Schoen

Treasurer

Bill Breen

Grievance Representative

Coon Rapids Campus

Joan McKearnan

President

Thomas Hanson

Vice President

Kevin Roesselet

Secretary

Bill Saari

Treasurer

Jim Biederman

Grievance Represenative

Bridging Buildings

On Monday, Aug. 20, structural steel for the walkway joining the Coon Rapids Campus Music Building and the Visual Arts Center main pieces were placed.

Welcome Week at Cambridge Campus

Welcome Week at Coon Rapids Campus

Coon Rapids Campus College Hour Begins Wednesday

Submitted by Lisa Lentner, PTA Department

Welcome Back Everyone!

My name is Lisa Lentner and I am a member of the Faculty Development Committee. I want to inform you about an important fun event coming up this week. Three Wednesdays out of each month are devoted to faculty development between 2 and 3 p.m. during “College Hour”. This year we are changing things up a little and having two College Hours per month and one Division Enrichment Day per month.

The first College Hour is called the “New Facultea” and the purpose of it is for the current Anoka-Ramsey faculty to meet the new faculty and vice versa. We have cake and refreshments and there are planned activities to help us get to know each other and welcome our new faculty to Anoka-Ramsey. I know everyone is very busy but I strongly encourage you to attend this fun event and have a little break from the chaos of your first week. Also the Faculty Development Committee would like to give you an overview of the activities we have planned for fall semester and explain what the Division Enrichment Days are all about. And did I mention that there is FREE CAKE?

The New Facultea College Hour is this Wednesday, Aug. 29 from 2 to 3 p.m. in Room S135. Hope to see you there!

Singers Wanted!

Submitted by Nicki Toliver, Fine Arts

The Anoka-Ramsey Choral Music Department has an opportunity for everyone who is interested in singing. Please check out the following:

New Visiting Scholar from China

Submitted by Rita Newton, World Languages

If you have not had a chance yet to meet our new Visiting Scholar from China, feel free to stop by in H212 and introduce yourself. His name is Guowei Zhuang, but he prefers to be called “Jonathon” (much easier to remember and to pronounce).

Jonathon teaches English at Zhaoqing University and also practices law part time. He would like to get to know us all better and learn and practice American language and customs. Please consider inviting him to a class and introducing him to your students if you are discussing oriental culture or practices and could bring in his first-hand knowledge!

If you have plans for Labor Day weekend, it would be nice to include Jonathon to an outdoor activity, such as the State Fair, a picnic, or a trip to one of our beautiful lakes. Or now you have more of an incentive to plan something if you had no plans yet.

Hellos, Goodbyes and Changes in Responsibilities

Submitted by Nora Morris, Educational Services

Please welcome Elisabeth Palmer to campus. She has joined us as the new Institutional Research Director. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor of science in Sociology from Manchester College, North Manchester, IN. Elisabeth has extensive experience in many research settings. Most recently as CEO and research director of ASPEN Associates, a research consulting firm that conducts research, evaluation and policy studies for local, state and national education, health and human service organizations. National funding sources include Institute for Education Studies (IES) and National Science Foundation (NSF).

Elisabeth is located in office C230. Please feel free to stop by and say hello.

Submitted by Ryan O’Donovan, TRiO/Upward Bound

Welcome to the following new TRIO Upward Bound Advisors:

Kelsey Derner, a recent graduate of the Minnesota State - Mankato Counseling and Student Personnel graduate program, will serve students at Mora and Braham high schools.

Kelly Ann Ebner, a recent graduate of the Minnesota State - Mankato Counseling and Student Personnel graduate program, will serve students at St. Francis high school.

Monica Drassal (starts Aug. 29), a graduate of the St. Cloud State University Counseling and Student Development graduate program, most recently served as an Academic Advisor in the TRIO Educational Talent Search program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. She will serve students at Princeton and Cambridge-Isanti high schools.

We are very happy to add these three to our staff. Feel free to stop by E159 to say hello.

Pause for Appreciation

Special thanks to the following individuals who assisted the President’s Office in preparation for the State of the College during Development Days:

News from President Jessica Stumpf

Professional & Workforce Training Aligned!

It’s official! The former Corporate Center of Anoka Tech and Professional Training of Anoka-Ramsey are now a single department offering a multitude of non-credit training options for individuals and businesses. The department is officially named Professional and Workforce Training.

Volunteers Needed: Anoka-Ramsey Campus Connection

Submitted by Ashley Weatherspoon & Jaimie Lopez, Student Services

As many of you know we kicked off Campus Connection last spring. We had over 70 volunteers who made connections with new students that semester! We would like to invite more volunteers to participate in this program. Here is some feedback we have received from volunteers:

“Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the Campus Connection program!!” – R. Robatcek

“Thanks for starting this program. I think it is great” –L. Harris

“I just walked Marissa around campus and found her rooms, etc. I can see how much this will help the students.” –M. Hunter

The following is more information on the program:

Many of our students are first generation and are scared to even take that first step through the door. So we are asking you to participate in this student outreach and retention program.

This is a great opportunity to welcome and offer an open door to new students that are taking this first step towards furthering their education. The connections that you will be making could make all the difference to them in their success at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

We are looking for volunteers to make a Campus Connection with new students each semester.

Volunteer Requirements:

One to three students will be assigned to you (this number varies based on the number of volunteers)

We ask that you contact the student(s) within the first couple weeks of the semester to:

Introduce yourself

Answer any questions and/or refer to appropriate service areas as needed

Be a Campus Connection for that student during their time here

Connecting with that student at least one more time during the year

If you are interested in volunteering to be a Campus Connection please contact either:

Past volunteers: We will keep you on the list unless we hear otherwise.

Cambridge Campus Library Hours

Submitted by Martha Muehlhauser, Library

ClosedFriday, August 3 through Tuesday, August 21

Open

Wednesday, August 22:

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thursday and Friday, August 23 and 24:

9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Academic Year
Beginning Monday, August 27:

Monday through Thursday:

8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday:

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday:

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday:

Closed

Library material may be returned at the Book Drop in the library door.

Student Guitar Ensemble Selected for State Music Education Conference

Submitted by Samuel Bergstrom, Fine Arts Department

The Coon Rapids Campus student guitar ensemble was selected to perform at the next Minnesota Music Educators Conference at the convention center downtown Minneapolis held Feb. 14 through 16. Our performance is schedule for Thursday, Feb. 14 likely in the afternoon, likely around 3 p.m.

The conference feature workshops on many topics in music education and performances by instrumental and vocal groups from middle schools, high schools and colleges as well as professional groups.

Our students worked very hard last year and jumped at the possibility of this opportunity. Along with the application, we submitted a recording for review by a committee of MMEA board members.

While it is challenging simply to be selected to perform and it is rare for student groups from community colleges to perform at the conference, the Minnesota Music Educators executive director also informed me that we are the first guitar ensemble to perform at this event in their long history.

The ensemble and I are very excited about this opportunity and look forward to representing Anoka-Ramsey and the Music Department.

Watch for more details as I work with the Music Department lab assistant and the Marketing and Public Relations Department to publicize this event.

Testing Services Schedule

Submitted by Jaimie Lopez, Student Services

Please see the following pages for updates to the Testing Services schedule:

Hellos, Goodbyes and Changes in Responsibilities

Submitted by Natasha Baer, Educational Services

Congratulations to Jan Pomeroy for being selected by the Health Professions Pathways (H2P) consortium to serve as the leader for the student success/advisors from across the consortium. Jan will be leading all retention coaches throughout the nine colleges currently participating in the H2P grant, she will be sharing best practices from Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

Pause for Appreciation

Another successful summer of Kid U has come to an end! On behalf of all the instructors, staff, students and families, I would like to extend a very heartfelt THANK YOU to the entire Anoka-Ramsey faculty and staff who graciously gave of themselves to make this event a wonderful experience for everyone!

Facilities Staff: Thank you for all the moving, hauling, arranging, rearranging, cleaning, deliveries and smiles you shared.

Kate Palm and Kitchen Staff: Thank you for your hospitality, delicious meals and helping with the root beer floats!

Ravae Anderson: Thank you for your patience and assistance as we edited and re-edited the multiple building requests.

Orrin Nyhus and Security Staff: Thank you for helping out with the VAC parking and everything you did to keep us safe and secure!

Dana Irgens and Peter Lerohl: Thank you for allowing the Kid U group to experience the thrill of the stage! There’s nothing like it!

IT Dept.: Thank you for your assistance with our multiple ‘technical’ issues, for your patient support and expertise.

Laura Migliorino: Thank you for graciously moving your photography class so Babysitter Training could use VA208!

To all the faculty and staff who donated supplies, Thank YOU! We received everything we could have asked for and then some! Every donation was greatly appreciated.

To anyone who unbeknownst to us, agreed to rearrange your plans so Kid U could use a room, a huge Thank You!

To everyone: Thank you for opening the campus to so many youth! Their positive experiences will be long remembered!